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“You and your team put a great package together, and the NFPW officers have unanimously voted to hold the 2017 NFPW conference in Alabama,” NFPW president Teri Ehresman wrote in a June 23 email to conference co-director Elaine Miller.

AMP President Discusses Freedom of the Press on the Radio

(with audio)

For the second time in 2015, Alabama Media Professionals participated in a radio discussion about media issues with BizTalk show host Roy Williams. In honor of Independence Day, when it aired on www.610wagg.com, the recorded program's topic was Freedom of the Press History and How It Applies in Today's Electronic Age.

Wade Kwon, a communications consultant and Y'all Connect director, gave his perspective on whether a blogger could accurately be termed a "reporter" or "journalist" and whether bloggers should have the same access and legal protections that reporters have.. . . . Listen to the Recording

AMP Members 'Show and tell' for Referrals and collaboration

On July 9, AMP members shared with each other their skills with the goal of getting future job referrals or finding someone to help with communications projects.

Each attendee gave a brief "commercial" and shared their accomplishments.

We learned about the special skills and talents of some of our new members: Joe DeScoise is a photographer of "anything but babies." Rachel Crisson does great wide-angle and 360-degree photography, and she writes and does magazine layout. Williesha Morris offers virtual assistant services and writes about writing. Linda Parham has much experience in business writing.

We also had a visitor attend because he is looking for a writer to help him make his book more interesting. . . . Read More

June Meeting: Diamonds and dirt of E-Publishing

Sherry Snider, seasoned technical writer and trainer and, for the past several years, also an e-published author, spoke to AMP members on June 11 on the "Dirt and Diamonds in E-Publishing."

Having already plowed the fields of indie publishing, Sherry can helped us winnow out the wheat from the chaff of worthwhile e-publishing sites and tools. She shared tips and a list of resources that helped her put groceries on the table with her e-published books and articles.

AMP members may attend our monthly meetings for free either in person or by Skype. Lunch is $10 or you can bring your own. Nonmembers are welcome and may join at the meeting or pay $5 for attending. Contact Peggy Gargis at jmgar8@gmail.com or 967-8254.

Judge Helen shores lee tells how she turned civil rights Era experiences into a riveting book

Judge Helen Shores Lee, who authored a book about her life in Birmingham as a Civil Rights attorney's daughter, told Alabama Media Professionals members she was a defiant child who broke Birmingham's segregation rules. At the our regular monthly meeting in May, she revealed that she purposefully drank from the "whites only" fountain at Loveman's and even shot a gun at some white hooligan boys harassing her and her family.

When her father explained to her that shooting at people was possibly going to land her in jail, and he wouldn't be able to get her out, she decided that Birmingham's injustices were not going to be a good fit for her nature. Lee explained that her temperament was not one of nonviolence at that time. She was only 13 then. So, an opportunity took her to Los Angeles, and later her husband brought her back to Birmingham.

Judge Lee said she ended up being influenced by John Lewis . . . Read More

Fun with Friends at the 35-Year AMP Reunion and Celebration

These former and current members were active in the early days of our organization, in the 1980s: Carolanne Roberts, Suzanne Dent, Beth Garfrerick, Ginger Harvill, Carolyn Stern, Virginia Gilbert Loftin, Mary Wimberley and Jane Newton Henry.

On April 18, our organization brought together former and current members at The Club in Birmingham to celebrate 35 years of our organization’s history and the 2015 AMP Contest Award winners.

Former member Suzanne Dent came from Atlanta while another former member, Beth Garfrerick, and some college students traveled down from Florence, Alabama to remember good times from the early days of our organization’s activities. The room was filled with laughter and smiles.

A total of 44 enjoyed watching a slideshow video, flipping through scrapbooks, visiting old friends . . . Read More

Alabama Media Professionals meet the second Thursday of each month at the Homewood Library. Guests are welcome!